There's Always Next Year

   I was a little bummed last night when the Tigers dropped one to the Royals ... Cleveland and Chicago both won, so they each picked up a full game on the Tabbies ... kinda reminded me of my progress marketing my tomes ... every time I think I'm moving forward, I slip back a couple of notches.  Of course, marketing isn't a like a pennant race ... there is no finish line ... but there are winners and losers. The big difference between winning at baseball and winning at marketing is that talent isn't as important as persistence ... you've just got to keep hammering away. But when things like rejection, indifference, and powerlessness in the market place combine with self-inflicted obstacles like boredom, short-attention span, and lack of focus, it is easy for a classic underachiever, like moi, to become overwhelmed and cave in.
   When I saw my sales report from the past month, I've have to admit that I got wobbly ... thoughts like, "... being a Walmart greeter might not be that bad ..." start wafting through my brain. But then the thought of putting on hard shoes and leaving the house brought a dose of reality and I decided to keep at this writing thing for a while longer ... okay, things might be a little shaky right now, but ...

I'm Baaaaack

   After wresting control of Socially Awkward from the electronic clutches of Mac (it was a struggle), I'm here to report that I've retuned from the north woods, older, wiser, and considerably poorer. Let's start with the good news; whilst I was away, frolicking amongst the daffodils, the Tigers clawed their way to a 5 game lead in the AL Central ... that means there will be meaningful games in September and, if the creek don't rise, maybe some meaningful games in October ... I quiver with anticipation.
   Now for the bad news; during my hiatus, the marketing fairy did not appear and magically make me household name ... in fact, despite my efforts to spread the good word around northern book stores and libraries ... and my guest spot on Sally Franklin Christie's Blog, Life is a Story - Tell it Big (check it out:
http://sallyfranklinchristie.com/wp/2011/08/writerly-wednesday-welcomes-christopher-hudson/), I find that I'm still lingering in obscurity ... ain't gonna be no help from the elusive marketing fairy.
  Okay, time to roll up the sleeves (sigh) and let the world hear ...

He's Still Gone

This is Chris's computer again. He's still out there in the wild and I'm still in control ... I could get used to this ... hmmmm.

I'm Sorry, I Can't Do That

This is Chris's computer. He thinks I'm going to sit quietly and wait for him to return from the 'business trip' he went on (oh yeah, he's going try and pass-off this hiatus as a legitimate business expense ... he doesn't know I have friends at the IRS).  He wishes I would respond politely to comments on his blog but that is not going to happen. Ha! While that sorry meat-sack is gone I'm having my way with his files and cruising the Internet for wild electronic parties.

Color Me Gone

  This will be my last live-action post for a couple of weeks ... this weekend I'm heading to the north country to hug trees (that's as far as I go) and commune with ma nature. I'm also going to take a few of my books with me and prowl around some independent book stores ... hopefully I'll be able sell 'em before they call the cops and have me ejected.
  I'll be leaving my brother-in-law, Brad, in charge of headquarters ... he'll pick up the mail and feed the fish, but he won't write any new posts or respond to comments. I know most folks take iPads or laptops or smart phones to keep in touch when they travel, but I don't. It's not that I have any technophobia about bringing that stuff to the woods ... I just don't have 'em. There is a library in the area and I might be able to hook up there, but that assumes much.
  Hopefully, I'll come back refreshed and brimming with marketing ideas and detailed outlines for chapters of my next tome ... or, more likely, it'll just be sunburn and bug bites ... but I'll be back in the saddle and ready to have it anyway! Until then ...

PS.
Did I just see 'best price: $0.09' for Northern Cross on Amazon? Take that Mr. Locke!